A Closer Look: Ed Baine's Journey to the Hall of Fame

An Annual Local Honor

On May 13th, 2026, Ed Baine will be inducted into the Greater Richmond Business Hall of Fame by Junior Achievement of Central Virginia. The honor celebrates not only his remarkable rise through one of the nation's largest energy companies, but also a lifetime of giving back to his community, his region, and the next generation of leaders.

Image caption: Baine cutting the ribbon on Dominion's High Voltage Laboratory in Dinwiddie County, VA

Built on a Foundation of Hard Work

Raised on a tobacco farm in southside Virginia, Ed Baine grew up understanding what it meant to work hard. His grandfather, a certified electrician and plumber, set the standard early. A high school trigonometry teacher saw something in him and pointed him toward engineering; by the time he graduated, the path was clear.

He arrived at Virginia Tech in 1991 on the Presidential Scholarship, a competitive award for Virginia students with significant financial need, and graduated in 1995 with a degree in electrical engineering. The people he met there — professors who sparked his love of the power industry, staff members who became like family away from home — gave him a foundation he still talks about today. He has stayed close to the university ever since, now serving as vice rector of Virginia Tech's Board of Visitors.

A Career Built From the Ground Up

Baine joined Dominion Energy as an intern while still at Virginia Tech and came on full-time in 1995 as an associate engineer. For the next three decades, he said yes. Yes to unfamiliar roles, to new challenges, to moves that required trust in himself before anyone else could offer it. Engineering. Operations. Shared Services. Power Generation. Transmission. Distribution. In 2020, he became president of Dominion Energy Virginia. By 2025, he was promoted to Executive Vice President of Utility Operations, now responsible for more than 4 million customers across Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

It's the kind of career that makes his advice to young people feel lived-in rather than borrowed: "Focus on being well-rounded. Work hard academically, but also get involved with sports, music, clubs, and community interests. Whatever you choose, aim to be better tomorrow than you are today."

Image caption: Ed Baine courtesy of Dominion Energy

Grounded by What Matters Most

Ask Baine how he spends time outside of the office and the answer comes easily. "I spend time with family, attend and watch sporting events, and enjoy traveling whenever possible." His wife Kim and their three sons, Kyle, Jalen, and Cameron, are at the center of everything. On occasion, he'll revisit his favorite film, Gladiator; a fitting choice for someone who built his career on discipline and resilience.

His commitment to those around him has taken him far beyond Dominion's walls. He serves on the boards of ChamberRVA, Venture Richmond, the Valentine, MEGA Mentors, the Chesterfield Education Foundation, and CJW Medical Center, among others. He coached youth football for more than eleven years. For Baine, service has never been something you do after the real work is finished. It is the real work.

A Full-Circle Honor

Looking at Baine’s career, the best advice he ever received becomes clear: “Don't be afraid to move. You can always get back to where you want to be with new experience, broader perspective, and stronger skills.” Rotating through roles that many would have avoided and building something extraordinary one step at a time, he never lost sight of the people depending on him along the way. His path gives Junior Achievement students across the Commonwealth a real example of what that kind of persistence can build over time.

The Greater Richmond Business Hall of Fame exists to honor leaders who have made an impact on our region through service and dedication. Ed Baine has spent three decades doing exactly that, and on May 13th, Richmond will have the chance to say thank you.

Join us to celebrate Ed and this year's other distinguished honorees.